Train-pipe coupling.



U'Niiiiii) smiths Patrizier OFFICE;

JOHN FOURNIA, 0F ALBANY. NEW YORK.

ASSIGNOR 0F UNE-I-IALF TO FREDERICK RANDALL GREENE. OF ALBANY, NEW YORK. F

TRAIN-PIPE COUPLING.

Application filed June 3,

To afl! 'whom it may concern; Y

llo. it known that lT .loin1 FornNia, av citizen ot the United States, residing at Albany, in thct-ounty of llianjT and Stale ot New York. have invented it certain new and uscful lini'irorcuient in '.l`raiiielipc (,l-oupli'ngs.Y ot' which the, following;` a specification, ret creare living;` had therein to ille accompany ings forming' part thereof.

Mii invention relates generally to train Q pipe couplings 'for conveying' water. ste-ain E or air between moving' train vehicles and particularly to couplings for use between a locomotive or engine and its tender.

One objectof my invention is toprovide a simple, strong and tight coupling` which i will fully accommodate the relatirenioic ments of 'the cars nude' all conditions ot' use. and which may be niadc tif-large Cros sectional arca and conductive capacity and without; drop ordroop and entirely ot metal.

Another objecty is to provide adjustable compensation :for wear so that the joints may i be. maintained with the parts tightly seated as they are Worn clown1 thus assuring great durability. Y

" Other objects are simplicityand ecoiciuj' in manufacture and maintenance, and .ease and reliability ot' operation.

Other' Objects and advantages ot my in i'eiition will appear from the following-dei Scription.

l' shall nonT describe my invention with i reference tol tlief accompanying Idrawings :ind shall thereafter point. ont my invention inelainis. .i v l A Figure l is a centralvertical section of a coupling embodying my iniention. j

would Vreina in connected.

nient. between the engine and tender, liolh 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is an i Aond View of the same' with the trainpipe in section.

`auch as would he employed between a locomotive ir-.engine and its tender and is not required 'to be uneoupled except in thil Shop. In all ordinary train handling this coupling' To provide for the. longitudinal )novespecifieauon of Letters Patent. Patented Feb. 28, 1911.

1909. serial No. 499,964.

on straightsections of track and on curves, tiro strain-ht pipe sections 1 and 2 are cnnl ploj'ed. the pijn` section ltelescoping within the pipe section 2; 'with a slip join-t, so that the movement is unrestrained. rllie joint is made tigi'ht by a stalling-hoi:` connection carried by the outer pipe section 2 and coinpiisingi' a packing gland 5 'screwing over a threaded enlargement 3 at the endV of the pipil section 2 and containing: and compressing a suitable 'packing' 4.- Tlic. gland may i contain a plurality ot' holes or sockets to rcceirc a key or wrench as showin The joint is maintained as airtight joint in all positions a nd theipipes slip freely relatively to each other to occupy anj position which .the

relative positionof thc train vehicles may require.

A permanent joint is provided between the telescopic pipe sections l, Q. and the train pipes or engine and tender pipes (i, (la. which provides tor a Very considerable 'swing in aliorizoutal direction such as will accoinnio date the sharpest curves of the roadlied and a moderate swing in avvertical direction f such as will accommodate any'7 possible variations nl. leicl or tilting between the locomotive, or enginel and its tender. Each of these flexible joints is of videntical construction` although thc arrangeinent-fof the rc spectirc joints is opposite or symmetrical i relative to the center of the coupling, and

thereto-rc a descriptioiiof o`ne n'ill'suiiice for4 `both. i

Each flexible joint. comprises ,primarily a socket nieiuher 7, which is secured to and is shown Screwed upon the-end of' the pipe section and has a spherical socket, and a ball member S which is secured to and is' shown. as screwed upon the. end of the trai-n u n pipe G. The ball member lits nicely against- `The coupling' shown in the drawings is the spherical socket., with a large freedom of a ugulnr niovelnentqnd 4the 'two parts of thisl ball and t'sockctjoint are' tightly held tti- 'will now describc.`

A helical thrust spring t) aul'reundsf'tlie adjustment. and in tal-:ing up the' wear of the ball and socket members. This bearing plate. il() is connected to the socket member 7 by teiisioii--iesisting means consisting of rods or eyesholts ll located vertically above and below the center line of the coupling and having eyes which somewhat loosely engage trunnions or studs 12 projecting from the socket. member 7, these eye-bolts passing freely through somewhat enlarged holes in the bearing plates and having nuts 13 abutting against the bearing plate 10. The eyes of the eye-bolts are shown as universally rounded to prevent binding or jamming in any position. Additional v4or jam nuts '14C are provided to insure against accidental loosening of the nuts 13, or lock nuts could be provided, although ordiiiarily the thrustof the s )ring 9 will hold the nuts tightly in adjusted position. The thrust of theI spring 9 is suiiiciently strong to hold the parts in the position in lwhich they are set, with the eye-bolts 1l vertically above and below the center linc of the coupling; and the angular movement of the joint as thctrain passes around curves tends to correct any slight deviation from the vert-ical. A very cons-iderable thrust must be developed in the springs to initially hold the joint tight, and the springs are, apt to become weakened in use and the spherical bearings are subjected to considerable Wear in use, but the provision of the means for adjusting theA tension of thex spring permits the parts to be assembled with the springs under slight, if any, tension, and thereafter the tension to be appled by tightening the nuts 13botli for initial adjustment and for compensation in service.

" The connection of the eye-bolts 11 with 'the socket. member 7 is a pivotal connection permitting the socket iuemberto turn on a.

vertical axis to a large extent amply suficient to accommodate -the Vangular movement resulting 'from thosharpest curve of the roadbed. This turning movementwill be accompanied byvsome 'lateral movement of the trunnions or studs- 12, since in the' 4construct-ion shown they are notiin vertical' aline-nient with the center of the ball joint, but this will be accommodated by the play at theconnection of the bolts with the bearing plate 10 and by the pla-y of the plate itself upon the train pipe 6. The relative vertical and tilting movements of the cars will loe/fully accommodated by the'play at. the connections between the eye-bolts l1 and studs l2, between the eye-bolts 411 and the bearing plates l0, and between the bearing plates l0' and the train gpipes 6. [lms the pipe sections may turn upon the train .pipes universally to the extent of movement required in their use. A tight joint is at all times maintained and the contacting parts of the ball and socket hay wear down to a considerable extent, and will still be held tightly in contact. The absence of any pacto ing gland at. the ball and socket joints is a distinctadvantage, in simplicity of construction, durability, and automatic compensation for.ivear.

flt is obvious that various modifications may be made in the construction shown and above particularly described within the prin ciple and scope of my invention.

l. In a train pipe coupling, in coinbination. a coupling pipe, a train pipe, and a hall and socket joint between the tivo pipes comprising a. ball member on one pipe, Aa socket member on the other pipe, an exteriorlf ar ranged thrust spring engaging oneof the members, bearing means receii-'ing the thrust of the spring` and tension-resisting means connected to the bearing means for longitudinal adjustment and pivotally connected to the other member on a substantially vertical axis. i

Q, A train pipe coupling comprising telescopic sec-tions having a slip joint toaeconr modate longitudinal. extension andfcontraction of the coupling1 train pipes, independent ball and socketjoints between the tele scopic sections and the trainppes to -aceonr niodate angular relative movements of the train pipes and telescopic. sections and for each ball and socket joint and exterioi-ly arranged thrust spring engaging, one ot' the members of the joint, and bearing means re ceiving the. thrust of the spring and piv-4 otally connected. to the other member of the joint.

3, A train pipe coupling comprising telelscopie pipe sections having a slip joint to accommodate all longitudinal ,Xtension and contraction of the couplin t-rainpipes, independent ball and socket joints between the telescopic sections and the train pipes, and resilient means for each bail and socket joint 'for maintaining a tight ,joint between the ball and socket, such resilient means Being pivotally connected to one of the parts of the joint on a substantially vertical axis-and engaging the other part. of the Ijointwith moderate play for angular movement on a, horizontal axis.

4. A train pipe coupling comprising tele scopic pipe sections having a slip joint to acf coniinodate` longitudinal extension and contraction ot the coupling, train pipes, and

'ball and socket joints between the telescopio sections and the 'train pipes, each ball and socket joint comprising a spring engaging iis naman,

one of .the parts of the ball and ysocket joint and a bea-ring member for the spring having a tension-resisting pivotal connection on aA substantially vertical axis to the other part of thc hall and socket joint.

A train ypipe coupling comprising telescopic pipe sections to `accomI-nodate longitudinal extension and contraction of the cou` member. on4 the other plpe, a helical thrust pling,vtrain pipes, ball and socket joints between the telescopic'seetions andthe train pipes, each ball and socket joint comprising a helical thrust spring encircling one of the pipes andengaging one of the parts of the ball and socket joint, a bearing plate loosely mounted on said pipe and receiving the 'thrust oli' the spring, and tension-res1sting means extending from the plate to a p1votalconnection with the other part of the ball and socket joint.

Atrain pipe coupling comprising tele scopic pipe sections to accommodate longitudinal extension and contraction of the coupling, train pipes, and ball and socket joints between the telescopic sections and the .train pipes,each ball and socket joint comprising 30,1oosely mounted on the train pipev socket member on the other i I thrust .spring encircling one ot t ie pipesand engaging one ol. the members, a

a. ball member on the train pipe, a socket member on the telescopic section, a helical thrust spring encircling the train pipe and engaging the ball member, a bearing plate and receiving the thrust of the spring, and bolts iconnected with the bearing plate andliaving eyes pivotally engaging studs 'on the socket member.

7. In a train pipe coupling, in combina@ tion, a 'coupling pipe, a train pipe, and a ball and socket joint between the two pipes comprising a ball member on 'one pipe and a socketnlember on; the other pipe, resilient means arranged exteriorly of the pi s for maintaining al-tight jointbetween t e ball and' socket,\st1eh resilient means being piv-4 'otally connected to one of the members on a substantially"vertical axis and engaging the other member, and means to adjust the'ten-v sion of the .resilient means.

8. In a. train pipe coupling, -in combina.- tion, a coupling pipe, a Ytrain pipe, and. a ball and socket joint between the two' pipes comprising a ball membei' on-one a socket member on the other pipe, antli'resdi 4ent means for tensionally holding the ball and socket members together, such resilient means being pivotallys connected to one of the memberson a substantially vertical axis and engaging the other member with moderate play for angular movement on a horizontal. axis. i 4' E). lu a train pipe coupling, in combina- "ion,a coupling pipe, a train pipe,.aml a ball and socket joint between the two pipes comprising a ball member on one pipea a helical cari ng plate loosely mounted on said pipe and receivi-ng the thrust ot the spring, and tensionresisting means extending from the plat;l to a pivotal connection with tlwother member.

10'. ln a train pipe coupling, in combination, a coupling pipe, a train pipe. and a ball and socket joint between the two pipes comprising aV ball member on one pipe, a .socket spring encircling one of the pipes and eugaglng one of the members, a bearing plate loosely mounted on said p1pe and receiving the thrust of the spring, and bolts connected withv the bearingy plate and having eyes pivotally engaging studs on the other member.

11. A' train pipe coupling comprising telescopic pipe sections having a slip joint to accommodate longitudinal extensions and contractions of the coupling, train4 pipes, and independent ball and socket joints between the telescopic sections and the train pipes to .accommodate angular relative movements of thetrainpip'es und telescopic sections, each joint vcomprising shall/member on one pipe,

a socketinember on' the o ther, pipe, an extemorly arranged thrust spring engaging one of the members, bearing means' receiving the thrustof the spring, and tension-resisting.

means connected to the bearing means for nec'ted to the other member on a substantially vertical' axis.

12. train pipecoupling comprising telescopic pipe sections having a slip joint to ac cominodate longitudinal extensions and contractions of the coupling, train pipes, and independent ball and socket joints between the telescopic sections and the train pipes to ac- ,longitudinal adjustment and pivotally con-4 Y I comrnodatel angular-relative movements of the train pipes and telescopic' sections, each joint comprising a,-.fball nlember on one llpes a socket member ou the other p1pe, a; he 1calthrust spring encircling one et' the pipes 'and engaging one of the members, a thrust-plate receiving the 'thrust of the spring, and tem sion-resisting means connected 4to the thrustplate for longitudinal adjustment and con# mg from said ring j with the. other member.

it. In a flexible pipe coupling, in combination, lnating pipes and a ball and socket joint 'lietween said pipes crnnl'n'ising a ball member on one pipe, a socket member on the the pipes antlengaging one of the` members, a bearing ring loosely mounted on nect-ed to tli'e other member pivotallyvon a` pipes comprising-a ball other pipe, a helical thrust spring encircling.`

one of thu pipes and engaging one of the In testimony where@ I have axed my` members, a bearlng ung loosely mounted on slgnature 1n presence (5f two wltnesses.

1 pip nd vlng the lus i h JOHN IOURNLL spuug, tenslon rslstmg means extendmg 5 from sand rlng to a plyotal conncctlon Wlth 'XVlinessesz l the other member, and means to ahust the FREDERICK li. GREEN tension of Suid Spring. l A I-"RPHMMN S. ARNOLIJJ; 

